Barcelona 1-2 Valencia : 4 talking points from the 2018/2019 Copa del Rey final 

#3 The pressure increases on Ernesto Valverde

Valverde's position is bound to come under increased scrutiny

Ernesto Valverde was announced as Barcelona's manager in the summer of 2017 to replace Luis Enrique and the 55-year-old performed significantly well in his first season, guiding the club to a domestic double and almost finished the La Liga season unbeaten but for a shock 4-3 loss to Levante on the penultimate matchday.

Interestingly, Barcelona have lost just four La Liga matches from 76 across two seasons under Valverde's management and his spell so far would have been considered a huge success but for his underperformance on the continent, which is where Barcelona really want to strut their stuff.

Last season, the club held a significant 4-1 advantage over AS Roma in the quarterfinal but somehow managed to get eliminated and in rather shocking scenes, lightning struck twice as Liverpool once more dumped the Catalans out in similar circumstances to pile pressure on Valverde.

Amidst fan displeasure, victory in the Copa del Rey would have helped cool off some the heat on the former Athletic Bilbao coach, but reprieve was not to come, as Valencia denied him the victory and his position would hardly be helped by his strange choices in the match.

He chose to start an underperforming Philippe Coutinho who only recently returned to full fitness while playing Sergi Roberto in an unfamiliar role on the right of attack at the expense of Malcom and benched Arturo Vidal.

The folly of his decision was exposed, as Valencia raced into a 2-0 lead at the break, with Valverde calling on Vidal and Malcom at the start of the second half to little avail.

Given the precarious nature of his position as Barcelona head coach, Ernesto Valverde needs every lifeline he can grab hold of, but with defeat in the Copa del Rey, the pressure is bound to increase on him and he could well find his position come under scrutiny in the coming weeks.